-Official- Is this car worth it thread
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 18
From: WI
Originally Posted by seskelson,Nov 16 2009, 05:27 PM
Hello. My first post here. Recently sold my 1995 R package Miata which is now on its way to the new owner in Norway.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Idaho Falls, ID
Hello. thanks for the quick replies on the S2000 I was considering. And to those who wondered on the R Package deal. The gentlemen has 2 others in Norway. We negotiated the deal via email. Then he wired the money to my account and I knew the funds were good before he ever arrived. I helped him arrange for some insurance. On the day he arrived he looked it over - he was more than pleased. I signed over the title and withdrew the funds and off he went to Calif. He emailed me throughout the trip. In Az. he got nailed by a speed camera. He emailed me it might have happend. When they sent me the ticket there is a procedure where you can supply info. that you were not the driver and they ask the address for the actual driver. I would loved to have seen their face when I told them Oslo, Norway. The Miata is on a ship now and is due to arrive in Norway on Dec. 22nd just in time for Christmas for him. All in all a very pleasant transaction if you handle things correctly. Now as to the obvious question: Why did he come all the way here? Well, hei's a Miata nut and mine was mint. As of now from his research he believes it will be the only one in Europe and definately in Norway. They did not import that package to Europe. He has a couple ofother special edition Miatas too. So he figured he had a cheap vacation thorugh the Southwest USA and wound up with a nice Miata.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Hey guys,
thanks for fielding my noob questions. I'm about to check out my 3rd s2k for sale this month. I hope it's as good as it sounds:
02 Berlina Black 47,700 miles
top replaced 5 years ago
Garaged
17" OEM rims w/ 75% tread left
Some expensive Alpine system..
OEM trunk deck lid spoiler
The guy is asking 13,000, but KBB Good is only 11,800. Wondering what should be my trigger price? ah! so antsy.
Anything to look out for when I test drive it?
thanks!
thanks for fielding my noob questions. I'm about to check out my 3rd s2k for sale this month. I hope it's as good as it sounds:
02 Berlina Black 47,700 miles
top replaced 5 years ago
Garaged
17" OEM rims w/ 75% tread left
Some expensive Alpine system..
OEM trunk deck lid spoiler
The guy is asking 13,000, but KBB Good is only 11,800. Wondering what should be my trigger price? ah! so antsy.
Anything to look out for when I test drive it?
thanks!
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by dammitjim,Nov 13 2009, 06:40 PM
Try this. The way to find the best deal is to be patient but be ready to buy right away when you find the right car.
http://www.hankshelper.com/
http://www.hankshelper.com/
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Hey guys, i'm pretty new to the S2000, and i've recently decided i'm going to buy one (when I get the money of course).
So as sort of a bit of a teaser for me, I looked at one that I saw in a used car lot while driving past one day, and I decided to take a look at it.
I was surprised to find there was 2 of them there, they were both '01 models, and both had 80K+ miles on them.
One was yellow, and the other was black. The yellow one had custom wheels, and the air intake apparently wasn't stock.
I personally like the yellow color a bit more, so since pretty much the first thing the guy selling the cars there asked me, was "Do you want to take it for a test drive?" I took the yellow one for a drive and I've been in love ever since.
There were a few problems though, the interior was very dirty, even the outside was dirty, and looked like it wasn't well kept, the stereo wasn't stock, so I don't know what that sounds like (I was too busy loving the car to turn it on).
The roof had some holes in it, as I could hear the wind noise.
The rear window was just plastic and it looked like it had been permanently fogged up.
And also, the gearbox felt like it had a lot of wear in it, so I think it would need a lot of work.
I could pretty much tell it had the living hell driven out of it.
The black one looked like it was in WAY better condition though, the roof was a roof without holes or tears.
The window was far more clear.
And the inside and outside looked far more clean, and best of all it was stock.
I don't know what it's like to drive though, since I just looked at it.
The guy wanted about 12k for the yellow one, which had about 90k+ miles on it, and the black one he wanted 13k for it, and it has 80k+ miles on it.
Personally, I don't think that guy even knew what a naturally aspirated engine is, and I think he was just looking to make a buck.
So I doubt i'll be buying one of those from him.
Anyway, to my question.
Is the roof tearing/ripping like in the yellow one a common problem for that particular year/car or is that just from being neglected?
I hear the rear window visibility is a common problem for the 01 model, should I go for an 02 or newer model?
Which year would you recommend (if it even matters) for someone who is new to the S?
Sorry for the long post. ^^
Any help would be much appreciated though.
So as sort of a bit of a teaser for me, I looked at one that I saw in a used car lot while driving past one day, and I decided to take a look at it.
I was surprised to find there was 2 of them there, they were both '01 models, and both had 80K+ miles on them.
One was yellow, and the other was black. The yellow one had custom wheels, and the air intake apparently wasn't stock.
I personally like the yellow color a bit more, so since pretty much the first thing the guy selling the cars there asked me, was "Do you want to take it for a test drive?" I took the yellow one for a drive and I've been in love ever since.
There were a few problems though, the interior was very dirty, even the outside was dirty, and looked like it wasn't well kept, the stereo wasn't stock, so I don't know what that sounds like (I was too busy loving the car to turn it on).
The roof had some holes in it, as I could hear the wind noise.
The rear window was just plastic and it looked like it had been permanently fogged up.
And also, the gearbox felt like it had a lot of wear in it, so I think it would need a lot of work.
I could pretty much tell it had the living hell driven out of it.
The black one looked like it was in WAY better condition though, the roof was a roof without holes or tears.
The window was far more clear.
And the inside and outside looked far more clean, and best of all it was stock.
I don't know what it's like to drive though, since I just looked at it.
The guy wanted about 12k for the yellow one, which had about 90k+ miles on it, and the black one he wanted 13k for it, and it has 80k+ miles on it.
Personally, I don't think that guy even knew what a naturally aspirated engine is, and I think he was just looking to make a buck.
So I doubt i'll be buying one of those from him.
Anyway, to my question.
Is the roof tearing/ripping like in the yellow one a common problem for that particular year/car or is that just from being neglected?
I hear the rear window visibility is a common problem for the 01 model, should I go for an 02 or newer model?
Which year would you recommend (if it even matters) for someone who is new to the S?
Sorry for the long post. ^^
Any help would be much appreciated though.
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 18
From: WI
What is your budget?
There are some small metal burrs on parts of the top frame on early cars that can cause premature top wear if they aren't filed down. At 8 years and 80k miles it's not surprising to see a worn top. I'd expect to have a decent top if I was paying KBB price for an S2000.
There are some small metal burrs on parts of the top frame on early cars that can cause premature top wear if they aren't filed down. At 8 years and 80k miles it's not surprising to see a worn top. I'd expect to have a decent top if I was paying KBB price for an S2000.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 21,530
Likes: 17
From: Gleening the apex
Originally Posted by Black_griffin6,Nov 21 2009, 03:39 AM
Which year would you recommend (if it even matters) for someone who is new to the S?
It's not as raw and the ability to swap an 02-03 ECU brings back the 9K redline
Plus stock 17" wheels
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 1
From: Arizona
I got an 04 BB in December for 16k with 37k miles, a year later and I'm up to 43k.
That dealer is trying to rip you off like none other. ESPECIALLY if the top is tearing! Mods lower the value of a car at a dealership, you can always use them as a point to talk the dealership down on price.
For some reason I can't find any good deals on craigslit, it seems like the private sellers are selling for more this year? Maybe the s2000 economy is already rising...
Now, the dealership is neglecting this car since the interior isn't even vacuumed out, which you can expect if it has any hidden problems they hadn't been fixed. When buying my s2000 I had a honda dealership check out my car and they said it had been in no wrecks and the only 2 problems were the electrical socket + driver side marker (we had noticed it was taped on with scotch tape at the dealership...)
You need to walk away from this dealership and wait for a better deal to come up, I would go for an '02-'03 (basically the same car). If you are looking to buy from a dealership, watch sites like this one...
http://www.automotive.com/used-cars/index.html
Watch e-bay and get a feel for prices like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-HONDA-...=item20ae1b0edc
Also watch s2ki's classified forum and get a feel as well, always be ready to talk the seller down on their price when buying a car because like on mine we got it 1k below their asking price. (That was an extreme, and they kept lying to us, I'm surmised we got it for that low, expect 200-500, start off asking like 200 below what you will want it for I guess)
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showforum=109
That dealer is trying to rip you off like none other. ESPECIALLY if the top is tearing! Mods lower the value of a car at a dealership, you can always use them as a point to talk the dealership down on price.
For some reason I can't find any good deals on craigslit, it seems like the private sellers are selling for more this year? Maybe the s2000 economy is already rising...
Now, the dealership is neglecting this car since the interior isn't even vacuumed out, which you can expect if it has any hidden problems they hadn't been fixed. When buying my s2000 I had a honda dealership check out my car and they said it had been in no wrecks and the only 2 problems were the electrical socket + driver side marker (we had noticed it was taped on with scotch tape at the dealership...)
You need to walk away from this dealership and wait for a better deal to come up, I would go for an '02-'03 (basically the same car). If you are looking to buy from a dealership, watch sites like this one...
http://www.automotive.com/used-cars/index.html
Watch e-bay and get a feel for prices like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-HONDA-...=item20ae1b0edc
Also watch s2ki's classified forum and get a feel as well, always be ready to talk the seller down on their price when buying a car because like on mine we got it 1k below their asking price. (That was an extreme, and they kept lying to us, I'm surmised we got it for that low, expect 200-500, start off asking like 200 below what you will want it for I guess)
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showforum=109